Santa Catarina recorded 74,500 cases of dengue fever in the first half of this year, a number that corresponds to an average of 12,000 infected per month since January. The data confirmed by the Epidemiological Surveillance Council (Dive-SC), this Wednesday (28), are the highest in the past three years compared to the same period – from January to June.
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In connection with 2022, the number of patients with the disease in the first semester in Santa Catarina increased by about 6%. On the same date last year, the state total was 70.1 thousand positive. But compared to 2021, the increase was more than 400%. At that time, in June, there were 16,000 cases of dengue fever.
At least 71 Santa Catarina residents have died of the disease this year. Although 16 are still under investigation, the number of deaths compared to last year decreased by 7%.
Joinville is the city with the highest concentration of deaths, as well as infected patients. There are 19,623 confirmed cases, of which 37 have died.
emergency decree
Due to the high number of infected patients this year, the Santa Catarina government declared a public health emergency in March. With dengue fever worsening and respiratory disease cases increasing, state hospitals are stretched to capacity. And with this, it was also decreed, again in June, emergency situation in public hospitals.
A state of emergency is the recognition of an abnormal situation caused by a disaster in which the damage and loss of the population has partially damaged even the response capacity of the public authority and has begun to demand extraordinary measures. Under the decree, the state is able to request federal aid, in addition to contracting exemption from bids and mobilizing public servants to face the disaster for a period of 180 days.
It continues after the announcement
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